Package holder



March 25, 1941. J p MQENERY 2,235,339

PACKAGE HOLDER Filed Jan. 18, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to package holders and more especially to holders for use with cigarette packages or the like which are provided with a wrapper so folded at the bottom as to provide a thin passage of the same width as the package leading from one side to the other thereof.

An object of this invention is a simple inexpensive and easily operated holder having a base and one or more tongues associated therewith in such manner as to extend into or through the passageway to secure the package to the base.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the invention and supporting a pack of cigarettes;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of such holder;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with a different arrangement of parts;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the same arrangement of parts as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a modification;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7, and f Fig. 9 illustrates the holder attached to a cardtable.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, It) represents a wooden block or the like by which the holder may be supported. The holder comprises a base ll formed of a single strip of metal bent up to form lateral flanges l2 slanting inwardly and upwardly and having the edges l3 extending vertically downward. Between the edges I3 are provided two slides l4 having downtumed longitudinal edges l5 engaging the horizontal or main portion of the base I I. Each of the slides I4 is formed from a single strip of metal bent intermediate its ends as shown at 16 to provide a platform ll extending over a portion of the slide 14. The shape of the bent portion I6 is such that its outer face has the same angularity as the flanges f2 and provides a vertical portion 18. As shown in Fig. 2, both the platforms ll taper inwardly. The slides l4 engage the bottoms of the edge members I3 and the platform members I! extend between the edge members l3. A spring l9 extends between tabs 20 struck out downwardly from the slides M and tabs 2| upturned from the base ll constitute stops to engage the tabs 20 to limit outward movement of the slides I4. The spring I9,

while desirable, is not essential and may be omitted.

Normally, the slides are in the position shown in Fig. 2 to which position they are urged by the spring I9. However, either or both of them may be moved from such position but when released return immediately to normal position under the influence of the spring Ill. The distance between the edge members I3 is just slightly greater than the thickness of a standard pack of cigarettes and the distance between the vertical portions l8 -'with the slides in the position of Fig. 2 is just slightly greater than the width of a standard cigarette package. The members l3 and I8 thus define a recess into which the bottom of a cigarette package will fit and constitute guides for the same.

The standard cigarette package is provided with a wrapper so folded at the bottom end of the package as to provide a thin passageway of substantially the same width as the cigarette package. The existence of this passageway facilitates mounting a cigarette package in the above-described holder. With the package properly tilted, one corner is inserted into the recess directly ahead of the inner end of one platform member I! and then moved toward the corresponding vertical portion l8 to effect insertion of said platform member or tongue I! in one end of the passage. Movement of the package is then continued with concurrent movement of the slide until the tabs Zll contact the stop 2| when the other end of the passageway has cleared the inner end of the remaining tongue or platform member I1, whereupon the package is tilted into erect position and moved in the opposite direction to effect insertion of the second tongue or platform member H with the remaining vertical portion I8 in contact with the package.

Another method of inserting the package is to move both slides I4 outwardly as far as they will go (Fig. 5), place the bottom of the cigarette pack in the recess, in contact with the slides I4 and then release the slides to be drawn together by the spring I9 and insert the tongues I! in the ends of the passageway.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 8, the vertical edges l3 have inwardly directed portions Ba and one end of the base is closed by a flange 16a constructed similarly to the flange l2 and provided with a downwardly extending vertical portion from which projects inwardly a platform member Ila slightly above the flanges l3u. At the other end of the base is provided a slide H! of the same construction as the slides l4 previously described and provided with a tongue or platform member H. A spring ['9 extends between tabs 20 on the platform members I! and Ila for urging the slide l4 from the position shown in Fig. 7 into a position comparable to that of Fig. 2. From the previous description of the manner of associating a cigarette package with the holder, it is believed that it will be apparent how a. cigarette package can be associated with this modification and, therefore, no detailed explanation is given.

As illustrated in Fig. 9, a hinged cover 35 may be provided for the holder and equipped with a snap lock means for retaining it in closed position. The cover may be set into a recess in the edge of a cardtabl-e or other suitable support and attached thereto in any suitable manner. Normally the holder is folded into the cover and is flush with the edge of the car-dtable and when it is desired to use the holder, it is swung out into the position shown in Fig. 9 in which position a cigarette package may be associated therewith as above described.

I claim:

1. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having longitudinal guides and a portion adapted to underlie the bottom of the package, a tongue carried by said portion and adapted to enter said passageway, a slide supported by said base for movement longitudinally of said guides and adapted to underlie the bottom of said package, a tongue carried by said slide and adapted to enter said passageway, and resilient means urging said slide toward said base portion to form a platform for said package bottom and to permit movement of said slide away from said portion for the purpose of inserting said tongues in the opposite ends of said passages.

2. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having longitudinal guides, two slides supported by said base for movement longitudinally of said guides and adapted to underlie the bottom of the package, a tongue carried by each slide and adapted to enter one end of said passageway, and resilient means urging said slides toward each other to form a platform for the package bottom and to permit relative movement of said slides for the purpose of inserting said tongues in the opposite ends of said passage.

3. A holder according to claim 2 having stop means for limiting movement of said slides away from each other.

4. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having longitudinal guides and a portion adapted to underlie the bottom of said package, a tongue carried by said portion and adapted to enter said passageway, a slide supported by said base for movement longitudinally" of said guides and adapted to underlie the bottom of said package, and a tongue carried by said slide and adapted to enter said passageway.

5. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having longitudinal guides and a portion adapted to underlie the bottom of said package, a tongue carried by said portion and adapted to enter said passageway, a slide supported by said base for movement longitudinally of said guides and adaptedv to underlie the bottom of said package, a tongue carried by said slide and adapted to enter said passageway, and means for maintaining said tongue in said package passageway.

6. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having longitudinal guides, two slides supported by said base for movement longitudinal of said guides and adapted to underlie the bottom of said package, and a tongue carried by each slide and adapted to enter one end of said passageway.

7. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having longitudinal guides, two slides supported by said base for movement longitudinal of said guides and adapted to underlie the bottom of said package, a tongue carried by each slide and adapted to enter one end of said passageway, and means for maintaining said tongues in said package passageway.

8. A holder according to claim 6 having stop means for limiting movement of said slides away from each other.

9. A holder'according to claim 7 having stop means for limiting movement of said slides away from each other.

JOSEPH P. MCENERY. 

